There’s much evil, but there’s more light than darkness.
– Robert Uttaro, American Professor of International Studies
Human nature accepts the original sin and sorrow of obedience, slavery and captivity to a superior power requiring no explanation or rationalisation. Its myopic essence sees the superior power with a bigger and taller horse, carrying a huge sword followed by a thousand ferocious-looking soldiers.
What human nature fails to recognise, and refuses to acknowledge, is that the bigger and taller horse, the huge sword and the ferocious-looking soldiers represent a clear, convincing and cogent reflection humanity’s abated, unused, and subdued power and authority.
The hallucinating public accept the moniker as subjects and citizens of a superior power. The chilling effect of this mind-altering power is the secret that a superior power holds to sway public opinion. Just scare the living daylights of the people by planting and nurturing fear requiring the increase of police power.
This state of affairs and supposed stupor does not stop the anti-establishment crowd that secretly plans ways and means to disestablish the superior power. Then comes an invading power, like Japan during WW2, overthrowing the existing superior power in the hope of reforming mindsets.
The groping for solutions to socioeconomic and geopolitical realities must begin in every stage of learning, but as Mark Twain quipped, “don’t let college in the way of education.” The existing education system forced upon the unsuspecting population is another superior power exhibiting unwelcome authority. Happens in every regime and jurisdiction. Home-schooling under the constitutional protection of freedom of religion became a powerful exit strategy without state sanctions and penalties.
There is a flip side to this when you find no solutions to a problem because it is not a problem to be solved but rather a bitter truth that is to be accepted. Being that we are expert architects of our destinies, we must continue to learn every day, and not to let age become an excusable barrier. Let iron sharpen iron.
The superior power is also groping for solutions to help keep itself in power. Meanwhile the people are groping for ways and means to contain the malaise. The people find it extremely difficult to understand and recognise that they are the initial and final problem which grants the superior power to find solutions easier and faster.
Monarchies like Bhutan offer lasting solutions by establishing a Happiness Index. Brunei ensures the disestablishment of elections. Many de facto kingdoms in Africa seem to be struggling to find solutions to colonialism and its terrible twin popularly known these days as neo-colonialism where a previous colony became independent and assumed the role of a new colonial power.
But what about nation states with strong monarchies that rely on elections to stay in a second-tier state of wielding power? The authentic superior power has a host of solutions to control all elections with laws, rules and regulations contained in the government’s political manifesto. Malaysia is a case in point.
Malaysia’s King is the most powerful person in the country because His Majesty alone has the power of pardon and the power to declare an Emergency. The Cabinet’s advice whether good or faulty is subject to His Majesty’s discretion, for instance, in summoning, dissolving or prorogating Parliament.
The rakyat need not grope for a lasting solution to end corrupt government if His Majesty, as the Supreme Head of the Federation and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, decides to declare an Emergency, suspend Parliament, and summon his brother Rulers to brainstorm into existence a Royal Council of Advisors to help run the government without elections. Constitutionally, His Majesty is bestowed with vast power and unbridled authority.
Constitutional supremacy, not parliamentary supremacy, calls the shots. The rakyat does not need interpretations by opinionated scholars. The Latin adage rex non potest peccare (the king can do no wrong) has to be taken seriously to occasion, at least, an experiment in permanent change and reform. A precedent has already been cast in concrete when the Malaysian King called the constitutional shots twice in appointing two governments without elections. The rakyat acquiesced despite social media showcasing disgruntled third-rate legal opinions forcing their unwelcome entry into our national psyches.
Malaysia is blessed with a powerful written constitution whose assertiveness and flair for command needs a captive audience ready, willing and able to obey it. That’s a splendid display of our human nature portraying immeasurable national pride that sheds bright lights while dispelling the darkness.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
